JOIN THE WORLD’S LEADING SKIN OF COLOR DERMATOLOGY ORGANIZATION!

The Skin of Color Society (SOCS) is the world’s leading professional dermatologic organization dedicated to achieving health equity and excellence in patient care through research, education, mentorship, and advocacy. SOCS is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in the field of dermatology to advance patient care.

Established in 2004 by Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, SOCS has grown from a small, highly dedicated group of dermatologists to become a vibrant global organization with more than 1,200 members from nearly all the United States and 35 countries around the world.

As a premier international society devoted to skin of color dermatology, our work includes:

• Promoting, supporting, developing, and stimulating knowledge about all aspects of skin of color within the specialty of dermatology, the medical profession, and the general population.
• Providing a forum for the exchange of information and insights pertaining to skin of color.
• Promoting the education of physicians, residents, and non-physician scientists, media, government, and third parties, (i.e. managed care and insurance organizations), and the general public regarding the unique properties, reaction patterns, and diseases that occur in individuals with skin of color through many signature SOCS programs.
• Advancing the scientific study and investigational research of skin of color, including basic science, clinical, surgical, and cosmetic issues.
• Providing rewarding mentorship opportunities for younger members and individuals interested in the field of skin of color to learn from skin of color dermatology experts who are SOCS members.
• Offering enriching collaborative opportunities for established members to represent SOCS to the media and the public to advance our mission.

We invite your membership and participation in our growing, dynamic society!

“I am absolutely thrilled with the trajectory of SOCS since we began in 2004. When we look at how the membership has grown, it’s so rewarding to see the expansion in the numbers of members involved, as well as our diversity and the wide range of valuable programs and activities we now offer.”—Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, SOCS Founder

“We are a group that is truly committed to excellence, a really unique group. I wish we could call ourselves the Skin of Color Family instead of the Skin of Color Society, because this is a group where we use our commitment and passion for science and care and combine it with leadership, camaraderie and passion for everything that is related to skin of color dermatology.”—Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, SOCS Past President

“The Skin of Color Society is a great brotherhood or sisterhood…where people really learn from each other.”—Cheryl Burgess, MD, FAAD, Former Board member

“Being a part of the Skin of Color Society is being part of an international community of individuals ranging from dermatologists, members of industry, medical students, residents, all who share one passion: passion in advancing the care of dermatologic disorders in patients with skin of color, a population that has some unique unmet needs. SOCS really stands alone as the only and the premier organization that focuses on advancing the education, awareness and research into areas of importance for patients of color.”—Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, Co-chair, SOCS Scientific Committee

“I wouldn’t be the kind of dermatologist I am without the Skin of Color Society. I think it has really shaped who I am as a physician, as a person. I’ve learned a lot more about diversity, about my patients. I ask more questions. Hopefully I am better at what I do because of it.”—Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, FAAD, SOCS member

“The Skin of Color Society is so special because it is a group of extremely dedicated dermatologists. It’s national, it’s international…there are people who are academicians, clinicians in private practice, there’s a close network.”—Lynn McKinley-Grant, MD, FAAD, SOCS Past President

I’m constantly learning new things from my colleagues and co-members who are in this organization. Every day, I’m able to use something that I’m learning from one of my colleagues and incorporate that into my everyday practice.”—Crystal Aguh, MD, MPH, FAAD, SOCS Board Member

“We take the individual from the place where they’re just starting in their medical career and thinking about ‘where would I like to go?’ “Is dermatology right for me?” all the way through residency, through fellowship and into their practicing world. For someone who’s coming to the Society new, I would recommend they start with committee work, then start to move up in the Society as we are always looking for the next leaders.”—Amy McMichael, MD, FAAD, SOCS Past President

“One of the exciting parts about the Skin of Color Society is our Mentorship Program, and that’s where you bring these generational dermatologists together and you come up with new ideas and learn how to treat your patients, without the adverse events that we commonly see in patients with darker skin.”—Valerie Callender, MD, FAAD, SOCS Founding Member

We warmly invite you to join the Skin of Color Society family today!

Individuals with skin of color have diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and include those of the following ancestries: African, Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, Native Indian, Pacific Islander, as well as individuals with mixed races and/or ethnicities.